The beginning of the story of the Tang Dynasty's Imperial Son-in-Law: A rhinoceros comes knocki

Chapter 103 Entrusting the Orphan

Carpenter Liu looked at Wang Zhihuan, his tone calm and each word clear, as if he had gathered the last of his strength: "Little benefactor Wang, I am not afraid of death. The only thing I can't let go of is these three children. The eldest is sensible, but he is still just a child and cannot support the family."

Tiedan is stubborn and hot-tempered, easily getting into trouble. Without supervision, he'll inevitably cause trouble sooner or later. Xiaoman is too young; she's still inexperienced in needlework and cooking. Without care, she won't survive.

At this point, he looked at the eldest son, his tone suddenly becoming stern: "All three of you, kneel down."

The eldest son knelt down in response.

"Tiedan, Xiaoman, kneel down."

The second son and the youngest sister knelt down one after the other, their knees hitting the hard ground with a dull thud.

With earnest eyes, Liu the carpenter looked directly at Wang Zhihuan and, using his last strength, pleaded, "I've never begged anyone in my life. Today, I'm shamelessly begging you to take these three children in. They are all hardworking and willing to work."

Don't worry, Dalang can carry water and chop wood; he can do all the rough work, both inside and outside the house. Tiedan is strong and hardworking. Xiaoman is obedient and well-behaved; she can learn to do laundry and cook.

I don't ask them to be rich or powerful, I only ask that you give them a bite to eat and a way to survive.

After talking about the children, he clearly explained the family's land and property, his words were logical and sincere, as if he had already planned it out countless times in his mind.

"My family has three mu of excellent paddy fields and two mu of dry land, all of which are fertile and produce grain every year."

The courtyard contained two mud-brick houses with tiled roofs, complete with firewood and farm tools, as well as a jar of stored grain and a few pieces of rough furniture.

After I leave, all the fields, houses, and belongings will be under the control of my eldest son.

But he is young and doesn't understand the ways of the world or human relationships. Today, I entrust my child, land, and family property to you.

From now on, the planting and harvesting of these few acres of land, the repair of the house, and the disposal of our belongings will all be at your disposal.

The children will do exactly as you say. They are absolutely not allowed to act on their own or cause trouble.

After saying this, he had exhausted most of his strength, and his chest was heaving violently.

Wang Zhihuan looked at the three children kneeling on the ground.

Dalang stood tall with his back straight, showing great perseverance and determination; at such a young age, he already possessed the responsibility of an elder brother.

Tie Dan lowered his head, gritted his teeth, and silently held back his tears. Xiao Man sobbed softly, looking very well-behaved.

He had already agreed in his heart, but did not express his opinion immediately.

That's how human relationships are; agreeing too easily makes you seem cheap. Necessary deliberation and consideration are essential.

He does need manpower.

My second uncle had been quite frank earlier, saying that he was guarding the farm and the distillery all by himself, while the troubles with the Wang family in Taiyuan had not been resolved and the situation outside was still uncertain.

Zhou Xia is a medical apprentice. He is kind-hearted and can help with medical practice and helping people, but he is not capable of protecting the family business, shielding people from troubles, and managing affairs and judging people.

He needs a group of people who are clean-cut, have no ties to him, have received his life-saving grace, and are willing to follow him wholeheartedly.

These three children came from impeccable backgrounds and had no connection with the Wang family of Taiyuan. They had received his help in their desperate situation and would remember his kindness for the rest of their lives, making them the most reliable choice.

Wang Zhihuan remained silent for a long time before slowly speaking, his tone solemn: "Brother Liu, I can take the child in, and I can also take care of the land and property on their behalf, and stand up for the children. But let me make this clear from the beginning."

Those who join my school must abide by my rules and be loyal. I do not demand talent or ability, but only that one be upright in heart and grateful for kindness.

If anyone betrays the Lord, forgets His kindness, or harbors disloyal thoughts in the future, I will show no leniency, no matter who it may be.

Upon hearing the confirmation, Liu the carpenter's eyes suddenly lit up, as if his last worry had finally been put to rest.

He gripped Dalang's arm tightly and, with his last ounce of strength, sternly instructed, "You three, remember this well! From now on, Master Wang is your only support and your only master!"

Obey the rules, follow orders, and serve loyally. Anyone who dares to betray the master is unfilial!

Even if your mother and I are in the afterlife, we will never forgive you! Do you understand?

The eldest son raised his head, and a tear finally rolled down his cheek. He neither wiped it away nor dodged it, his words ringing out firmly: "Your son remembers! I will never betray the Master in this life. If I break this oath, may Heaven and Earth not forgive me!"

Tie Dan kowtowed heavily, his voice firm and resolute: "I will never betray you! Anyone who dares to insult the Master, I will pay with my life!"

While shedding tears, Xiaoman respectfully kowtowed three times.

Looking at the three children, Liu the carpenter felt his wish had been fulfilled.

The last breath that had been holding him up suddenly dissipated.

The light in her eyes, that last bit of gratitude and reluctance, gradually dimmed. Her body slowly went limp.

Dalang hurriedly went to help him, but he was gently pushed away by Dalang.

"Let me rest—"

As soon as he finished speaking, his eyes slowly closed, and he fell silent.

The room was completely silent.

Wang Zhihuan spoke up, his voice steady: "Eldest son, go boil some water and cleanse your father."

He took a small, rough porcelain bottle from his medicine box and placed it on the table.

"This is a pain-relieving medicinal wine. If the pain is unbearable at the end of life, you can feed a little. As for the rest, there is nothing I can do."

Dalang took the bottle with both hands, his throat choked with emotion, and he managed to squeeze out only two words: "Thank you."

Wang Zhi didn't linger any longer, picked up his medicine box, and walked out of the courtyard.

The sunset painted the sky with vibrant colors, and wisps of smoke rose from the chimneys of Xiahe Village, their thin, elongated trails swaying in the evening breeze as they dissipated into the deepening twilight.

He glanced back at the courtyard.

Dalang squatted silently in front of the stove to boil water. Despite his young age, he showed no signs of panic, only a deep and steady composure.

Tie Dan sat on the threshold, clutching his father's old straw sandals, motionless.

Xiaoman stayed by the bedside, silently shedding tears, no longer crying or making a fuss.

From this day forward, the three children, and the family's land and property, will all be under his protection.

By the time we got back to the farm, it was completely dark.

Zhou Xia was squatting by the stone bench, stroking Ah Huang's head. When he saw him return, he immediately stood up: "Master, Liu Dalang's fever has completely subsided, and his wound has stabilized."

"Hmm." Wang Zhi placed the medicine box on the stone table and said calmly, "Liu the carpenter from Xiahe Village is gone."

Zhou Xia paused, then asked, "Is he the father of those three children?"

"Yes. A minor foot injury, delayed in treatment, resulted in tetanus, and there's no hope of recovery."

"What should be done with those three children?"

"I accept it." Wang Zhihuan picked up his herbal tea and took a sip. "His three mu of paddy fields and two mu of dry land, along with the houses and farm tools, will all be handed over to Dalang for management. I will take care of them on his behalf."

Zhou Xia remained silent for a moment, then nodded slightly and asked no further questions.

"Make another trip to Xiahe Village tomorrow."

Wang Zhihuan said, "I've taken care of all the funeral arrangements for my eldest son. I've inventoried all the fields, houses, and farm tools, and kept detailed accounts."

"Yes."

The evening breeze rustled through the jujube trees, their leaves whispering softly. Moonlight filtered through the branches, scattering shards of silver across the ground.

Wang Zhi leaned back on the stone bench, a slight sense of emotion rising in his heart.

When the original owner lost his father at a young age, he still had relatives and clansmen to rely on.

But these three children were orphans, with no relatives or friends. Those few acres of land and their meager possessions were their only support. And he became their only reliance.

He had only been here for a year, and his foothold was still unstable and his foundation was still shallow.

In this chaotic countryside, a lone person is nothing more than a drifting duckweed or a lamb.

To gain a foothold and protect one's own territory, one must eventually cultivate one's own strength and win over the hearts of those who are willing to serve.

Taking in three children and taking over the family business today may seem like an added burden, but in reality, it is the first step for him to take root in Qinghe Village and consolidate his foundation.

Liu the carpenter's funeral was simple, yet it was conducted with great respect and was by no means shabby.

Following Wang Zhihuan's instructions, Zhou Xia made a special trip to the county town to purchase a proper coffin and cut several feet of white cloth.

-

The villagers of Xiahe Village were deeply grateful and spontaneously came to help, digging and building the grave, carrying the coffin and leading the way, burning paper money and offering sacrifices, and following all the proper funeral customs.

The atmosphere in the mourning hall was solemn and somber.

The eldest son, dressed in plain white mourning clothes, knelt before the coffin and burned paper money all night long.

Tie Dan squatted silently at the gate of the courtyard, refusing to leave even for a moment, no matter how many times others tried to persuade him to rest.

The youngest, Xiaoman, had already cried herself to sleep, curled up on the ground, her tender brows furrowed, and she still sobbed softly from time to time in her sleep, which was pitiful.

The children in ancient times were so sensible it was heartbreaking; from that moment on, they were no longer children.

Even though Xiaoman is only ten years old.

From now on, there will be no more hands to shield them from the wind and rain, and no one will stand in front of them to say "Don't be afraid".

From now on, you can only shoulder the burdens and experiences of life's ups and downs, its joys and sorrows, on your own shoulders.

In the years to come, through spring planting and autumn harvest, through cold and heat, the crops in the fields will have to be planted by ourselves, and the roof in the yard will have to be repaired by ourselves.

When you're hungry, there's no one to cook for you; when you're cold, there's no one to add clothes for you; when you fall, there's no one to help you up; and when you're in pain, you can only endure it on your own.

If others bully you, no one will stand up for you anymore; if life forces you to your knees, no one will support you anymore.

Perhaps the most painful lesson in this world is having no one to rely on. And these three children will officially begin their schooling tonight.

Zhou Xia handled the entire funeral arrangements single-handedly, taking care of all the welcoming and sending-off ceremonies with meticulous care and efficiency.

The village elders, seeing this, praised the young man for being calm, insightful, down-to-earth, and the most reliable.

On the morning of the third day after the funeral, just as dawn was breaking, Wang Zhihuan had Zhou Xia bring the three Liu siblings to the farm.

The morning mist had not yet dissipated, and the morning breeze was slightly cool.

Dalang, holding his younger brother and sister's hands, stood quietly at the entrance of the farmyard.

All three were dressed in faded white clothes, patched upon patched, yet they were washed clean and neat, showing no sign of sloppiness.

Dalang's long hair was tied up with hemp rope, neat and tidy; Tiedan's little face was rubbed until it shone, and his eyebrows and eyes were bright; Xiaoman's thin braids were combed again, and a plain white paper flower was pinned to her temple, revealing a child's pure solemnity.

Ah Huang, the dog in the yard, was the first to notice the newcomers. Wagging its fluffy tail, it quickly went to greet them, circled around the three children, sniffed them carefully, and finally lay down obediently at Da Lang's feet, gently resting its chin on his shoe, affectionate and protective of its master.

"Come in."

Wang Zhihuan stood under the old jujube tree, holding a bowl of warm porridge in his hand. His tone was calm and gentle, just like usual. "You probably haven't had breakfast yet. There's hot porridge in the kitchen. Just go and get some for yourself."

Dalang did not move.

He glanced down at his still bewildered younger siblings, then bent down and knelt directly before Wang Zhihuan.

Without saying a word, Tie Dan immediately knelt down.

The youngest, Xiaoman, hesitated for a moment, then obediently followed suit and bent her knees.

Three tender foreheads slammed heavily onto the compacted yellow earth, the three muffled thuds echoing clearly in the quiet morning courtyard.

"Master of the Manor".

Dalang's voice was hoarse from keeping vigil all night, but every word was firm and resolute: "My father's dying words are all etched in the hearts of my two siblings and me."

From this day forward, our lives belong to the master. We will obey your commands without hesitation, even at the cost of our lives.

.

Wang Zhi held the bowl of porridge and remained silent for a moment.

He didn't rush to help her up, nor did he say a single word of polite comfort.

He deserved to kneel.

This is not just a matter of being taken in for a meal and a place to stay; it is a heavy responsibility of entrusting one's life to another.

"Get up." After a long while, he spoke slowly, "The ground is cold; be careful not to hurt yourself."

The three siblings got up as instructed and silently brushed the dust off their knees.

Tie Dan had a clump of yellow mud on his forehead. He raised his hand and wiped it off haphazardly, which only made half of his cheek look gray and gave him a somewhat simple and honest appearance.

Xiaoman timidly hid behind her brother, secretly raising her eyes to look around the unfamiliar courtyard.

The ancient jujube tree, the smooth bluestone table, the raccoon cat resting lazily on the windowsill, and the gentle and obedient yellow dog at the door, all mingled with the aroma of porridge wafting from the kitchen—everything before them was warmer and more reassuring than they had imagined.

"Let's eat first."

Wang Zhihuan turned and walked towards the kitchen, leaving behind a message: "After breakfast, I have something to tell you."

Zhou Xia had already prepared breakfast by this time.

A pot of millet porridge is cooked until it is thick and soft, with a layer of warm and translucent rice oil on the surface, and a rich aroma.

On the table was a dish of crisp and tender pickled vegetables, a few oily salted eggs, and a few soft mixed flour steamed buns—simple yet filling.

The three siblings sat around the stone table, carefully eating their warm bowls of porridge.

Tie Dan was at the age where he was growing, so he ate very quickly. He would finish one bowl and immediately ask for another. He wolfed down his food but was not rude.

Xiaoman is gentle and delicate. She sips her porridge slowly, her clear eyes occasionally glancing curiously at her surroundings.

Only Dalang was the most restrained. He ate only a bowl of porridge and half a steamed bun before gently putting down his chopsticks, sitting up straight, and quietly waiting for Wang Zhihuan to continue. He was so composed that he didn't seem like a fourteen-year-old boy.

Wang Zhi did not keep him waiting for long.

He leaned back in the wooden chair, holding a cup of cool tea in his hand, his gaze slowly sweeping over three youthful yet resolute faces, his expression calm and solemn.

"Your father entrusted you to me, and now that I have accepted this entrustment, I will definitely take responsibility for the three of you to the end."

,

He spoke calmly, but his words were clear: "Let me make this clear from the start: this farm does not support idlers. You can't just eat for free without making a contribution."

The eldest son nodded solemnly: "Yes, Master, we understand."

"I will have someone take care of your three mu of paddy fields and two mu of dry land."

Each year, after paying taxes and keeping seeds, all the remaining grain is stored separately, to be returned to you on the day you come of age.

After saying that, he turned his gaze to Tiedan and Xiaoman, and his tone softened a bit: "The three of you will be living and eating here from now on, and you will each have your own duties and learn your own skills."

On the farm, you can learn everything from planting and seedling cultivation to feeding chickens and raising livestock, brewing wine and collecting herbs, and running errands. Are you willing?

'

"I'm willing! But Master, if that's the case, wouldn't you—"